Iran yesterday rejected US President Donald Trump’s call to renegotiate a better nuclear deal, describing the offer as “nothing but political showboating”, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported.
“The U.S. government knows what to do to achieve any successful diplomacy with Iran,” Ali Rabiei, spokesman for Iran’s government, said in a televised news conference. “They have to rebuild everything they have destroyed unilaterally.”
The US yesterday released Iranian-American Doctor Majid Taheri, who was accused of violating US sanctions and financial reporting requirements, as part of a prisoner swap, after Tehran released a US Navy veteran last week.
READ: Iran ‘ready’ to swap more prisoners with US, says official
This comes days after US authorities released the scientist Sirous Asgari, 59, who was imprisoned in America in 2016, on charges of “stealing trade secrets”.
After the successful prisoner swap, Trump wrote on Twitter: “Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!”.
…to the UNITED STATES! We have now brought more than 40 American hostages and detainees back home since I took office. Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2020
“Don’t wait until after U.S. Election to make the Big deal. I’m going to win. You’ll make a better deal now!” he added.
Addressing Trump’s comments Rabiei said: “We don’t make decisions based on US elections and who will be elected, but will decide in accordance with our national interests”